Hong Kong inflation accelerated in April mainly due to a surge in prices of fresh vegetables, a report from the Census and Statistics Department showed Tuesday.
The composite consumer price index rose at a faster-than-expected pace of 4 percent year-on-year in April, following a 3.6 percent rise in March. It was forecast to rise to 3.7 percent.
Netting out the effects of all government's one-off relief measures, the annual increase in the composite CPI was 3.9 percent, larger than 3.7 percent seen in March.
Looking ahead, a government spokesman said inflation is likely to rise slightly in the coming months as the lagged effects of the rise in private housing rentals during 2012 feed through.
Nonetheless, imported inflation stayed tame and the recent softening in housing rentals should help contain the upward pressure on inflation in the latter part of this year, spokesman added.
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